Devotionals by Dr. M. Craig Barnes

This page provides some of the weekly devotionals (messages of Grace and Peace) written at The National Presbyterian Church by former Pastor Dr. M. Craig Barnes. Many more of his inspirational writings are available in his books.

Scroll down and click on the title to read the Devotionals.

AUGUST 2002

August 4, 2002
I leave you with these now familiar last words from the last nine years:

JULY 2002

July 28, 2002
Happy are those who fear the Lord. -- Psalm 112:1

July 21, 2002
Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. -- Matthew 25:13

July 14, 2002
I am convinced that neither death nor life... will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. -- Romans 8:38-39

July 7, 2002
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God. -- Romans 5:1

JUNE 2002

June 30, 2002
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand. -- Romans 5:1

June 23, 2002
Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp. -- Numbers 9:17

June 16, 2002
Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked? -- Ecclesiastes 7:13

June 9, 2002
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. -- Ecclesiastes 3:1

June 2, 2002
Humility goes before honor. -- Proverbs 15:33

MAY 2002

May 26, 2002
"Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'" -- Matthew 9:13

May 19, 2002
I also am a man under authority. -- Matthew 8:9

May 12, 2002
This people's heart has grown dull. -- Matthew 13:15

May 5, 2002
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. -- Matthew 6:21

APRIL 2002

April 28, 2002
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. -- Matthew 5:8

April 21, 2002
Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. -- Exodus 20:8

April 14, 2002
The Lord takes pleasure in his people. -- Psalm 149:4

April 7, 2002
If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, then we are of all people most to be pitied. -- 1 Corinthians 15:19

MARCH 2002

March 31, 2002
Our hope for you is unshaken. -- 2 Corinthians 1:7

March 24, 2002
Have salt in yourselves. -- Mark 9:50

March 17, 2002
Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs. -- Mark 7:28

March 10, 2002
Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them... -- John 6:11

March 3, 2002
Already you have all that you want! -- 1 Corinthians 4:8

FEBRUARY 2002

February 24, 2002
The Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love...and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper. -- Genesis 39:21, 23

February 17, 2002
Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal... -- Philippians 3:13-14

February 10, 2002
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. -- Hebrews 11:1

February 3, 2002
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed. -- Genesis 17:17

JANUARY 2002

January 27, 2002
How could we sing the LordOs song in a foreign land? -- Psalm 137:4

January 20, 2002
And the Word became flesh and lived among us. -- John 1:14

January 13, 2002
He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. -- Colossians 1:17

January 6, 2002
Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 3:12

DECEMBER 2001

December 30, 2001
I have set before you an open door and no one is able to shut it. -- Revelation 3:8

December 23, 2001
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. -- Luke 1:41

December 16, 2001
I have this against you, that you abandoned the love you had at first. -- Revelation 2:4

December 9, 2001
His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness...anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted. -- 2 Peter 1:3, 1:9

December 2, 2001
Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. -- 1 Peter 1:22

NOVEMBER 2001

November 25, 2001
When they looked up they saw no one except Jesus himself, alone. -- Matthew 17:8

November 18, 2001
Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd? -- Matthew 15:33

November 11, 2001
In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by. -- Psalm 57:11

November 4, 2001
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty -- Revelation 1:8

OCTOBER 2001

October 28, 2001
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness. -- Psalm 25:10

October 21, 2001
I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. -- Psalm 131:1

October 14, 2001
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. -- 1 Corinthians 12:7

October 7, 2001
Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. -- Matthew 7:6

SEPTEMBER 2001

September 30, 2001
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial. -- 1 Corinthians 6:12

September 23, 2001
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. -- Psalm 62:6

September 16, 2001
Take courage; I have conquered the world. -- John 16:33

September 9, 2001
Judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. -- James 2:13

September 2, 2001
O Lord, what are human beings that you regard them? ... They are a breath; their days are a passing shadow. -- Psalm 144:3-4

AUGUST 2001

Dr. Barnes was on vacation for the month of August.

JULY 2001

July 29, 2001
So they shook the dust off their feet... -- Acts 13:51

July 22, 2001
The voice said to him again, a second time, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." -- Acts 10:15

July 15, 2001
This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. -- Luke 23:52

July 8, 2001
The Lord said, "See, he has hidden himself among the baggage." -- 1 Samuel 10:22

July 1, 2001
Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down. . . -- Luke 21:34

JUNE 2001

June 24, 2001
Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. -- 1 Samuel 3:8

June 17, 2001
How beautiful you are, my love. . . your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down the slopes of Gilead. -- Song of Solomon 4:1

June 10, 2001
See I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse... -- Deuteronomy 11:26

June 3, 2001
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. -- Hebrews 4:14

MAY 2001

May 27, 2001
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. -- John 7:24

May 20, 2001
Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money -- not even an extra tunic. -- Luke 9:3

May 13, 2001
...in him all things hold together. -- Colossians 1:17

May 6, 2001
All in the synagogue were filled with rage. -- Luke 4:28

APRIL 2001

April 29, 2001
They are like trees planted by streams of water... -- Psalm 1:3

April 22, 2001
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades. -- Acts 2:27

April 15, 2001
You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him! -- John 12:19

April 8, 2001
All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people. -- Romans 10:21

April 1, 2001
I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. -- Romans 7:15

MARCH 2001

March 25, 2001
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. -- John 7:24

March 18, 2001
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickednessS -- Romans 1:18

March 11, 2001
I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. -- John 3:28-29

March 4, 2001
You are a hiding place for me. -- Psalm 32:7

FEBRUARY 2001

February 25, 2001
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. -- Matthew 5:16

February 18, 2001
You are not far from the kingdom of God. -- Mark 12:34

February 11, 2001
Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies. -- . 2 Timothy 2:23

February 4, 2001
Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. -- Isaiah 55:6

JANUARY 2001

January 28, 2001
O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. -- Psalm 55:6

January 21, 2001
I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist; return to me for I have redeemed you. -- Isaiah 44:22

January 14, 2001
He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. -- John 1:8

January 7, 2001
Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage, wait for the Lord." -- Psalm 27:14